New guinea impatiens plant named ‘Dongipetpiberpi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Dongipetpiberpi’ characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIPETPIBERPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongipetpiberpi’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2015 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN13-000192-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN-0005, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongipetpiberpi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongipetpiberpi’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly         mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large red purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red purple in         color whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection         are light red and light pink bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Lower leaf surfaces of plants of the new Impatiens are green         in color whereas the lower leaf surfaces of plants of the male         parent selection are dark red in color.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red purple in         color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are         light lavender pink and dark pink bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duepetrest’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,375. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duepetrest’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Duepetrest’.     -   2. Lower leaf surfaces of plants of the new Impatiens are green         in color whereas the lower leaf surfaces of plants of         ‘Duepetrest’ are dark red in color.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Duepetrest’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red purple in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Duepetrest’ are soft red and         light lavender bi-colored.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagwis’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,782. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemagwis’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Lower leaf surfaces of plants of the new Impatiens are green         in color whereas the lower leaf surfaces of plants of         ‘Duemagwis’ are dark red in color.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flowers about one week earlier         than plants of ‘Duemagwis’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red purple in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Duemagwis’ are light red in         color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (sheet 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongipetpiberpi’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (sheet 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongipetpiberpi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and spring in 20-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,500 to 5,500 lux. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2017 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongipetpiberpi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN13-000192-001, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN-0005, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly             spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; broad inverted             triangle in overall shape; freely branching habit; bushy and             dense appearance; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth             habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 38 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 51 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about 13 to 15             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             branches.         -   Length.—About 29 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading, about 45°             from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 59A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146A tinged with close to 59A; at             the internodes, close to 58A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Long acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than             147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; midvein,             proximally, close to 59A; midvein, distally, and lateral             venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; midvein, close to 59A to 59B;             lateral venation, close to 147A to 147B.         -   Petiole length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 59A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary flowers             that are roughly rectangular in shape; freely flowering             habit, typically about two to three opening and fully opened             flowers per lateral branch; flowers are mostly flat and             positioned above and beyond the foliar plane, flowers             typically face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about twelve weeks from unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat             glossy Color: Close to 59A.         -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 7 cm by 6.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl with one banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 3.1 cm.             Length, lateral petals: About 4.5 cm. Length, lower petals:             About 3.2 cm. Width, banner petal: About 3.5 cm. Width,             lateral petals: About 3.5 cm. Width, lower petals: About             3.2 cm. Shape, banner petals: Broadly cordate. Shape,             lateral and lower petals: Cordate. Apex, all petals:             Cordate. Base, all petals: Attenuate. Margin, all petals:             Entire, not undulate. Texture and luster, all petals, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy;             iridescent. Color, all petals: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N57A to N57B; towards the             center, close to 56B; venation, similar to lamina colors;             red purple coloration becomes more dominant with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to N57B to N57C; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Lateral             sepal width: About 5 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Narrowly             deltoid. Lateral sepal apex: Long acuminate. Lateral sepal             base: Truncate, fused. Lateral sepal margin: Entire. Lateral             sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; somewhat glossy. Lateral sepal color, upper             surface: Close to 59B. Lateral sepal color, lower surface:             Close to 59A. Spur length: About 3.7 cm. Spur diameter: At             flower, about 3 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur shape:             Acicular, curved. Spur texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy. Spur color: Close to 145A, proximally             tinged with close to 53A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 30° to 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong;             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 59A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to 158A. Anther length: About 4 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma             shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length:             About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close             to 144A and 187A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongipetpiberpi’ as illustrated and described. 